How to Write a Successful CV

No matter how many jobs you may have applied for in the past, knowing how to write a successful CV remains one of the most daunting tasks for any job seeker. It may have been years, if not decades, since you last had to write a CV and you might not know where to start, but don't worry; as a professional recruitment company, we have seen our share of the good, the bad and the downright bizarre in terms of CV applications, so we have put together this easy to follow guide on how to write a successful CV from layout to content.

Your CV Layout

• Name and Contact Details
• Personal Statement
• Employment History
• Education
• Additional Information
• References

Name and Contact Details

Present your CV with your first and last name clearly in bold at the top of the page. Underline this with your current contact details including your home address, telephone number and email address. You can also include any websites or blogs that you own if they are relevant. Thinking about adding a photograph? We'd advise against it - let your content do the talking.

Top Tip Many job seekers believe that they have to include their date of birth, nationality and marital status on their CV. Updated discrimination laws now mean you do not have to include this information, so stick to the basics.

10 Tips for Implementing Successful Change Management Projects

Organisational Change is a must for many businesses operating in today’s competitive environment and, according to a recently published study by DDI: Global Leadership Forecast 2011, driving and managing change will remain a top priority for business leaders. However, many organizations get it wrong; they hope that by adjusting certain processes and structures that change will happen automatically and people will follow.

As Business Change recruitment experts, we understand that it is the employees’ response and willingness to change that will ultimately determine the success of any Business Transformation Project. With Change being fundamental to business success, here are a few tips from change management recruitment experts for implementing it effectively:

1. Don't rush. Take your time to carefully determine what you need to change. Devise a step-by-step strategy that considers both short and long term goals.
2. Communicate clearly and transparently throughout the entire process. You don't want your employees to hear rumours from a mis-informed third party, which could lead to inaccurate speculation.
3. Be inclusive. What might be obvious to the Leadership team is not necessarily obvious to the rest of the staff. Treat everyone as an individual and discuss how the change will impact them directly.
4. Be prepared for resistance. As creatures of habit, people will cling to what they are used to if they are given the chance. Be consistent and address all concerns raised.
5. Reward and motivate. Ensure you share and celebrate any successes with all of your team and reward even small achievements. This will help to uphold enthusiasm and illustrate the benefits of the change.
6. Select "Change Champions" who will lead smaller teams by example. A few well-selected individuals will boost morale, particularly amongst those staff who will be most affected by the change.
7. Don't give empty promises. Organisations' failure to deliver often results in lost trust and can lead to the employees' initial enthusiasm fading away. If something does not go quite to plan, be honest and explain why.
8. Be patient. People need time to adapt their behaviour to structural and process changes. Introducing gradual, high quality training can be a real investment. 
9. Monitor progress. Keep track of the change project and constantly seek feedback. Don't be afraid to adjust your plan if you believe it is the right way forward.
10. Consult with Business Change recruitment experts. If you use external Business Change consultants, make sure they understand your organisation, its values and its aspiration. They should change and adapt their strategy to suit your organisational needs - never let them take a one-size-fits-all approach.

Do you agree with our tips? What is your experience of change management projects? Share your views in our comment box below and we will get back to you.

What's next?

>> Download our free guide to effective talent management 
>> Follow the Sanderson Facebook page for live job market updates

The Future of the Jobs Market: What's in it for you?

Filtering through the latest REC Report on Jobs and CIPD's Labour Market Outlook, it can be difficult to fathom what action, if any, you should take based on their findings. Overall, the conclusions drawn have been positive for both employers and job seekers, but how should you respond to the changing jobs market? 

A key finding from REC's July Report on Jobs is the fact that the number of available vacancies has reached the highest figure in six years. This surge in availability largely stems from the increasing confidence of employers toward the jobs market. As they start to invest once again in sourcing talent for their companies, so the availability of permanent and contract placements rises. Unlike employers, employees and potential candidates remain ambivalent toward the positive turn the jobs market appears to be taking. Unsure of whether it will last into the long term, employees are sitting tight in their current roles, which has lead to a gap between the high demand for skilled workers and the availability of suitable candidates. 

For Job Seekers...

In order to take advantage of the opportunities that are emerging, as a job seeker you should focus on continually developing your skills in order to stay ahead of the competition. In particular, specialist recruitment companies cited that there were major skills shortages in IT (.Net, Java, Business Analysts) and Finance (Accountants, Compliance, pay roll). 

For Employers...

From an employer standpoint, you should not focus too much on sourcing new talent; retaining the best talent currently within your company should remain a top priority. It is inevitable that your employees will become more open to offers from other companies as confidence in the jobs market grows. Therefore, the development and implementation of a strong talent management strategy should be of key importance to your resourcing team over the coming months. 

>> Download our free guide to Effective Talent Management

>> Read 'How to Use Your LinkedIn Profile to Get a New Job'

Are Job Boards a Cost Effective Method of Recruitment?

I would be very interested in hearing people’s thoughts on how useful advertising is as a recruitment tool for clients, candidates and recruitments agents. As an industry, are we getting true value for our money?

From a recruiter’s point of view, my mindset has changed. Five years ago I would have ensured that any new consultant in my team had a sound knowledge and understanding of various job boards for advertising new vacancies and attracting new candidates. My initial belief was that this was an integral part of becoming a successful resourcer.  My view on this has now completely changed.